Sinclair Deluxe Oil Rack: Vintage 1950’s Gasoline Advertising Display – VS6249

History Of The Sinclair Dino Logo

New York State Route 17 Sinclair Station. Doug Kerr from Upstate New York, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Sinclair Oil is an American petroleum company founded in Wyoming in 1916. Its famous green dinosaur logo, introduced in the 1930s, became one of the most recognizable symbols in American advertising and helped establish a strong identity for the Sinclair brand.

The dinosaur, originally known as a Brontosaurus and later identified as an Apatosaurus, appeared throughout the company’s advertising and service stations. Over the years, the logo was updated several times to give it a more modern and streamlined appearance while preserving its familiar character.

Although the Sinclair dinosaur became less visible during the oil crisis of the 1970s, it never disappeared completely. It continued to appear on company products, signs, and promotional materials.

Today, the Sinclair dinosaur remains a beloved symbol of the company’s history and one of the most enduring logos in the American petroleum industry.

Sinclair Dino Rooftop Statues History

The fiberglass Sinclair Dino rooftop statue dates back to the mid-20th century, when Sinclair Oil used the statues to promote its gas stations. Placed high on station rooftops, the large dinosaurs attracted attention, helped customers spot Sinclair locations from a distance, and became familiar roadside landmarks.

The statues were fiberglass versions of Sinclair’s friendly dinosaur mascot, part of the company’s long-running advertising campaign. They were usually painted bright green with red Sinclair branding and were often shown holding a company sign or standing near a gas pump.

Installed at Sinclair stations across the United States, these rooftop dinosaurs became iconic symbols of the brand and memorable pieces of American roadside advertising.